This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.
That is one very cool looking car. Still love the colour, great choice.
Thanks for that . The colour picked itself, really. When I was building it, I amassed a stack of magazines etc. with D-Type articles and pictures. The choice was Jim Clark white; BRG; or Ecurie Ecosse Flag Metallic Blue. The white simply didn't complement the shape, and the BRG is too hackneyed IMO, so 'Merchiston Mews' it was! I wish mine sounded like that...
Today's sortie in the A352 was again to the Austin A35 meeting at Staverton Aerodrome. It was a little chilly on the way but warmed up nicely for the return. As I was about to leave, two young uniformed helicopter pilots came and complimented me on my 'D-Type' as they'd never seen one in the flesh. I fessed up.
Today, having seen it advertised on their club web site, a good few 'Trevors' showed up, including this one with an interesting roof.
It took me straight back to the early 70s when, having seen Spridgets sporting Bermuda Hard Tops, I decided on similar for my 1960 Mini. The two front roof lights, which I had done first, are Mini rear side windows, fitted by a local windscreen outfit. I liked them so much that I took it back after a while and asked if he had anything for the back, leaving it with him. He plumped for an E-Type Coupe back window rotated 180° - result!
Funnily enough I've been busy restoring a Bermuda hardtop for my MG today -
Much less claustrophobic than a solid roof on a small cockpit car. Mine has blue tinted perspex roof panels and rear window that are still in very good condition, and it's going to be Steel Blue (RAL 5011), a very dark blue to contrast with the Iris blue car.
Today, lured out by the lunchtime sunshine, I uncovered the A352 and took her out for a spin around my favourite short lap, which is uphill outbound to get the oil good and warm. On the way back, over the scenic Painswick Beacon road, I stopped for a couple of shots. The sun immediately ducked behind some thin cloud and my fondly imagined 'moody backlit shot' came out fairly averagely. The second, from behind, was rather better. No deer were seen.
I'm looking forward to replicating this drive at Xmas 2019 in the Monaco. Time will tell.
It's now time for a Whisky Mac before lighting the oven .
I popped out early yesterday in the Micra to collect an Ebay item from Argos in Sainsbury's, but without my camera, which I immediately regretted. On return home I uncovered the A352, grabbed the camera, and pootled back to the, by now, much busier car park to take this.
The nearest corner post was bent almost double, so it clearly wasn't a parking speed impact.
Today's sortie in the A352 was to the Cotswold Classic Car Club meeting at Shipton Oliffe, a handy venue for me, being only 12 or so miles away. I arrived at 1130 and was lucky to get in the pub car park as someone was just leaving and I slotted in next to a very nice T Series MG
There were a good few regular cars there, no doubt owned by the previous night's party goers, but a few gems, to my eye, were also there. including this very early Spitfire.
I wandered down to the overspill field which was filling rapidly and saw this beauty in house colour, which I always prefer to the rather hackneyed racing red.
A Vitesse with its bonnet up next caught my eye. I didn't get to speak to the owner, but I was deeply envious of their engine, which clearly had had a good few bob thrown at it.
Returning to the car park, I bought a coffee and fielded lots of punters' queries and compliments. One of them said that they'd been overtaken on the way by a red car similar to mine with 64 in its roundels..... I think Alex must have been elsewhere bound as I saw neither him nor his car.
It drizzled a little on the way back but Gloucester was dry for tucking up . A nice start to the kit car year!
Hi Mick, I was at the Classic hub at Bibury breakfast meet today so was up that way, I did pass a few cars on the dual carriage way at Chippenham and the only classic was a silver Jag so that might have been who I overtook
Today's sortie in the A352 was to the Prescott breakfast club meeting, as mentioned above. The morning drive down along almost deserted roads was delightful, the six-pot loving the cool moist air. I arrived to be hailed by Alex, whose Formosa was gleaming in the early sunshine. After initially being directed to the Jaguar area, I confessed my car's humble origins and moved to a slightly more appropriate location, amongst some classic British metal.
There was an excellent turnout, especially of Morgans, Porsches and Jaguars. Amongst the others were a few (to my eyes) real gems, including this '57 MGA, under whose bonnet lurked a 3.5 litre Rover V8, a beautifully done conversion.
Two others, also green, caught my eye, an MG and a Volvo.
Wandering back to my car to field some more interested enquiries, I was asked by a lady if it was a Tojeiro. After I'd explained its fraudulent genesis she told me of her childhood when the Ecurie Ecosse transporter was often parked outside her home. It turned out that she was John Tojeiro's daughter. She had her grandson, who looked about three years old, in tow, who announced that he was going to be a racing driver when he grew up. A thoroughly delightful encounter which really made my day.
Regards, Mick
Good to see your car featured on the Prescott Breakfast Club web page for 2019 ! The first one this year is 14th April.
Another event not too far away is the Bromyard Speed Festival. The whole town centre is cordoned off for fast parade laps. Lots of classic cars and bikes. I've applied to enter my 250 TR. Date is 7th April
Many thanks for that, I'm very flattered that they've used that picture. I registered for the Speed Festival also, fingers crossed it'll be accepted! I chose this picture to support it.
f:0" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">This appeared overnight: Same underpinnings as mine, but incorrect lights/wheels/steering wheel to mention but a few. His dash and reg. aren't a patch on mine either. Perhaps I should offer it for sale again, taking the advice given earlier and bumping my asking price way up!
Another event not too far away is the Bromyard Speed Festival. The whole town centre is cordoned off for fast parade laps. Lots of classic cars and bikes. I've applied to enter my 250 TR. Date is 7th April
Last week I received an e-mail from the organisers advising me that my parade laps application had been unsuccessful . I replied, expressing (rather tetchily, I must admit) my disappointment at this. A conciliatory response prompted an apology on my part, which has resulted in an invitation to not only statically display my car, but also have the opportunity of a photocall with it alongside XKD603, the star (to my mind) of the show. This is the Ecurie Ecosse D-Type which 'only' came second at Le Mans in both '56 and '57.
To say I'm excited is a massive understatement. I can hardly wait!
My application has also been declined on the grounds that the event is massively over subscribed. I still intend to go and park up in the TR somewhere around the town.
The A352 passed its fourth test yesterday, with just a few advisories, one of which, the 'slight exhaust leak', was also mentioned last year . Another was that one of my ex VW Beetle trials car tyres is 'damaged/cracking or perishing'. I'll address that (with its axle partner) before my sortie (weather permitting) to Bromyard tomorrow week. The year's mileage was only 1,300, doubtless due to the three breakdowns suffered: blown diff; failed condenser; failed distributor cap, the latter two taking a bit of locating. Mileage since first test in 2015 is now 2,798. Happy Days.
Today's sortie in the A352 was to the above event. Setting off along the deserted A38 at 0700 I noticed a slight fluffiness in the throttle response at low revs, more of this anon. On arrival I was directed to a small veteran and vintage area where I immediately espied Lucky@LeMans' Testarossa, looking rather fabulous.
A little further on I spotted these redoubtable ladies in Myrtle, their Peking-Paris mobile. Respect!
Wandering around the paddocks I came across XKD603 - the real thing - with its corporal nose stripes. Envy doesn't come close!
In another of the paddocks, amongst a very mixed bag, was this glorious Lister, with a beautifully patinated cockpit, which I neglected to photograph . More mega envy.
Almost everyone else had departed by the time the last of many parents had taken snaps of their offspring in front of the A352. I jumped in and she refused to start - aaaaaaaaargh! A gent pulled up next to me in a Cinquecento, leant out of the window and asked "Is it a Triumph?", then "Is it a six?" "Diaphragms in your Strombergs, he said." Another punter, overhearing, said "I used to replace them at every service when I worked for Triumph." A squirt of Easy Start had her purring, sort of, and I got home and had her covered before the rain started. I shall certainly be buying and fitting the recommended items forthwith.
Great day out at Bromyard, much busier than the last time I went two years ago. Huge turn out of both classic cars and bikes along with a couple of thousand spectators. Mick was in his full Jaguar white racing overalls and looking the part ! There was a lot of interest in our cars from just about everyone who came past. I think we had one of the better places to pitch up, next to paddock A and right outside the best butchers / pie shop in Herefordshire !
I forgot to mention above that, at Bromyard, a bloke came up to me and said "I was only looking at your car this morning". He swiped his device a few times and opened Tribute's 'Old No.7' Ebay advert. Small world stuff!
. The colour picked itself, really. When I was building it, I amassed a stack of magazines etc. with D-Type articles and pictures. The choice was Jim Clark white; BRG; or Ecurie Ecosse Flag Metallic Blue. The white simply didn't complement the shape, and the BRG is too hackneyed IMO, so 'Merchiston Mews' it was! I wish mine sounded like that...
. I replied, expressing (rather tetchily, I must admit) my disappointment at this. A conciliatory response prompted an apology on my part, which has resulted in an invitation to not only statically display my car, but also have the opportunity of a photocall with it alongside XKD603, the star (to my mind) of the show. This is the Ecurie Ecosse D-Type which 'only' came second at Le Mans in both '56 and '57.
. Another was that one of my ex VW Beetle trials car tyres is 'damaged/cracking or perishing'. I'll address that (with its axle partner) before my sortie (weather permitting) to Bromyard tomorrow week. The year's mileage was only 1,300, doubtless due to the three breakdowns suffered: blown diff; failed condenser; failed distributor cap, the latter two taking a bit of locating. Mileage since first test in 2015 is now 2,798. Happy Days.
